What is a commode?
A commode is a dresser or chest of drawers that is generally antique and French in appearance, having originated around the 18th century in France. Bombe commodes (or bombe chests, as they are perhaps more commonly known today), are among the best-known examples of commodes. Commodes are generally wider than they are tall, similar to a dresser, with cabriole-style legs or feet. Most often, they feature elaborate decorative gilding and luxurious accents such as marble tops or attached mirrors. In their heyday, commodes were often used in pairs, which is why you commonly see commodes sold in sets of two. For those wondering why the word “commode” occasionally stands in as a synonym for the WC, commodes historically displayed a similar appearance to the bedside cabinets used to stow chamber pots. Over time, these bedside cabinets also became known as “commodes.” As chamber pots evolved into proper rooms with plumbing, the term stuck, which is why the term “commode” is still sometimes used in lieu of “the throne.”
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Lead image courtesy of Todd M. Haley
